The city of Portland is busy getting ready for a big wave of visitors this tourism season.The Maine Department of Transportation is in the middle of a monthlong paving project across the city.The work will wrap up in June, just in time for the bulk of the cruise ship season, which includes a new ferry service from Portland to Nova Scotia.The Portland City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a 16-month lease with Bay Ferries, which will operate the service.The new lease agreement comes after the Nova Star ceased operations between Portland and Nova Scotia last year.City officials said the ferry service is not entirely about the money sailing in."Certainly its revenue, but I think there's certainly this long standing tradition of having a connection to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and we're really glad they were able to figure out a way to bring the service back, and hopefully a lot of people will take advantage of it and enjoy the connection," Portland Communications Director Jessica Grondin said.Portland's cruise ship season officially kicks off Sunday.It will be the first of 76 cruise ship visits through October.Nearly 100,000 passengers will visit the city, with the largest ship carrying 4,000 people.Get the WMTW App9234718

PORTLAND, Maine —

The city of Portland is busy getting ready for a big wave of visitors this tourism season.

The Maine Department of Transportation is in the middle of a monthlong paving project across the city.

The work will wrap up in June, just in time for the bulk of the cruise ship season, which includes a new ferry service from Portland to Nova Scotia.

The Portland City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a 16-month lease with Bay Ferries, which will operate the service.

The new lease agreement comes after the Nova Star ceased operations between Portland and Nova Scotia last year.

City officials said the ferry service is not entirely about the money sailing in.

"Certainly its revenue, but I think there's certainly this long standing tradition of having a connection to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and we're really glad they were able to figure out a way to bring the service back, and hopefully a lot of people will take advantage of it and enjoy the connection," Portland Communications Director Jessica Grondin said.

Portland's cruise ship season officially kicks off Sunday.

It will be the first of 76 cruise ship visits through October.

Nearly 100,000 passengers will visit the city, with the largest ship carrying 4,000 people.